Book Description
Includes an afterword by the author
Harry Crosby was the godson of J. P. Morgan and a friend of Ernest Hemingway. Living in Paris in the twenties and directing the Black Sun Press, which published James Joyce among others, Crosby was at the center of the wild life of the lost generation. Drugs, drink, sex, gambling, the deliberate derangement of the senses in the pursuit of transcendent revelation: these were Crosby's pastimes until 1929, when he shot his girlfriend, the recent bride of another man, and then himself.
Black Sun is novelist and master biographer Geoffrey Wolff's subtle and striking picture of a man who killed himself to make his life a work of art.
Customer Reviews:
Boring Son.......2007-05-15
Are there no more editors? This book is repetitive, much too long, and the organization is confusing. I am never convinced Harry Crosby is worth the time to read his story. As I read, I kept thinking, "Why bother?" Harry's life might be interesting as an example of supreme self-indulgence and self-absorption, but his writing (as quoted) is atrocious! Tighten it up, tell me more about Black Sun Press and some good writers, and less about Harry's decadence-unless you can make it more interesting than this!
Staring at the Sun.......2006-09-15
Anyone who thinks Crosby led a "minor" life doesn't get it. Harry Crosby, the founder of Black Sun press, led an astonishing existence and was a premiere member of the avant-guarde "suicide club" founded by Baudelaire and carried through Lautrec, Jarry and Charles Cros.
I knew I was going to love this book when I read in the first chapter about the cable Harry and his wife Caresse sent to Harry's rich Boston family: "Please send $10,000 immediately -- have decided to live a wild and extravagant life." Very few people are able to create their own realities and inhabit them as fully as Crosby -- his determination recalls not only Jarry but even earlier figures like William Blake.
Wolff's writing is superb: his sense of narrative and description are pitch-perfect without sacrificing detachment or sinking into the realm of hagiography. It is a fascinating portrait of a man who lived his life to the fullest through his love of Art.
Sunfire.......2004-06-08
Vignettes about Harry Crosby may be found in Malcom Cowley's, "Exiles Return"; "Absinthe: History in a Bottle", by Barnaby Conrad; "Published in Paris," by Hugh Ford; and a couple poems in "The Penguin Book of Surrealist Poetry". You may come across Harry Crosby in biographies of D.H. Lawerence, Hart Crane, or James Joyce, and definitely in his wife, Caresse Crosby's "The Passionate Years". All in all, Geoffrey Wolff's biography is a welcome find. I came across an old and forgotten copy of "Black Sun" for $1 amidst thousands of used books at a San Francisco library sale in the "pre-Amazon.com" days when I was blindly searching for more information about Crosby who fascinated me. It was pure luck; or destiny! I had recently read his diary, "Shadows of the Sun" (Black Sparrow Press, 1977) which is the work he is most known for, and is one of the most fascinating & captivating diaries I've ever read. Some reviewers have commented on the "mediocre quality" of Crosby's poems, but read within the context of "Shadows of the Sun" and/or "Black Sun" they melt into perfect harmony with his life. "Black Sun" is the ideal supplement to "Shadows of the Sun", adding unbiased biographical details about Harry, the 1920's, and the wonderful influence Harry and Caresse had upon those they befriended. Wolff did an excellent job researching old letters from various archives, as well as utilizing his orignal diaries as source material - Harry kept assiduous details of his life for posterity's sake.
I'm glad to see that "Black Sun" has been reprinted in this new 2003 paperback, and it contains an afterword by Wolff discussing how and why he chose to write about Crosby. He states that he wouldn't have written about Crosby had he not committed suicide. This is interesting, but not shocking, as that is what pulls everyone into Crosby's story in the first place - he seemed to be on top of the world right up until his tragic end. Yet, none of it was surprising to anyone who knew him. He and his recent mistress, Josephine shot themselves in a suicide pact. The mystery is in the details of how it all exactly transpired, and my personal opinion is that they were drunk, he talked about suicide, she took him seriously, stomped on his wedding ring, took his gun and shot herself first, beating him to the punch, and so leaving him with no escape (he had originally intended to die with Caresse at a predetermined date in the 1940's). The standard theory is that "he shot her" first (she, probably willingly, but unknown), and then, a couple hours later, himself. Indeed, he had discussed death frequently, and it was his own gun that he brought into the New York hotel room that final night in December, 1929. Whatever the actuality of the two suicides, the most fascinating thing about Harry to me (and perhaps to Wolff) is that his death and life were intertwined into a sparkling surrealist poem idealized, and carried out. Harry Crosby was and is a very rare figure in American literature, and gladly, due in great part to Geoffrey Wolff, will continue to remain so. One may take what they will from his brief life, but more than simply some lost peripheral figure from the "bohemian 1920's", Harry was religously devoted to love, truth, poesy, and art. He committed himself to living out his aethetic ideals to the fullest extent possible, making his and Caresse's life together an inspiring firestorm of intense passion.
Carpe Diem.
He Meant It.......2003-10-24
Curiously, given Harry's infatuation with Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray throughout much of his life, it was a dictum of Wilde's that Uber-Critic Harold Bloom says he would have engraved above the entrances to the English Departments of every institution of higher learning if he had his way, to wit: "All bad poetry is sincere." that kept coming to my mind throughout the reading of this book. But, note, this dictum does NOT imply its converse: "All sincere poetry is bad." - An important distinction, this. - For Crosby's poetry is nothing if not sincere and, taken out of the context of his life, is bound to seem tawdry, fantastical or sloppy. In other words, it does indeed seem quite bad. But taken in the context of this life, it assumes another hue entirely. As Wolff puts it, his poems were more "testaments" than poems qua poems. All his writings on suicide, the worship of the Sun, et al seem pallid and lifeless until one realizes through the reading of this book that he lived these words. He didn't merely write them. Upon this realization, (dare I say it) they suddenly BLAZE to life.
The best aspect of the biography for me is that there is no attempt at some sort of psychobabble analysis in the study of a character that surely invites it: Not one "Id," "Ego," "Oedipus Complex," "Jungian Archetype," et blah, blah, blah. Wolff deftly narrates the life-story of this fantastic, wealthy, sybarite with his literary ambition as he lived it through his short, kaleidoscopically decadent and unbalanced life.
But, given all this, there is a prodigal consistency to his life worthy of symbolic logic, right up to the end. Thus, to me, reading this book was brisk and refreshing (pace to the Puritans). Near the end of the book, Wolff quotes Mrs. Powell as saying that all Harry's extravagant talk was "just literary." To her, it surely must have been. But as Wolff points out, "For Harry, of course, the locution `just literary' would have been oxymoronic."
In contrast to all the "Lost Generation" writers and artists and jabberers for whom the whole scene was "just literary," to Harry, every word (Indeed, every letter) was wriggling with the blaze of life and........death.
HE MEANT IT.
The pleasures of a minor life.......2003-09-19
Geoffrey Wolff's famous 1976 biography of Harry Crosby--a minor but spellbinding figure of the so-called Lost Generation--was an ideal book for the NYRB Press to revive and reissue. As a literary figure Crosby was certainly exceptionally minor--he was a dreadful and derivative poet, and his reputedly beautiful editions published by his Black Sun Press are hard to reproduce here (and are indeed not). But his life was as fascinating a tale of early 20th-century wealthy decadence as you could wish. The best part opf the narratiove are the earlier sections, explaining how Harry rebelled against his Proper Bostonian past to pursue a live of drugs, drink, sex and lavish spending in Paris between the wars. The details of what harry did once he threw caution adside and did whatever he felt like tend to become monotonous, as stories of decadence often do (everything blurs together). But Wolff has sensitively framed his narrative, and makes a very persuasive case for why Harry was NOT typical of his generation that actuially makes an intriguing point about the kinds of narratives biographers map onto their subjects' lives. And if Wolff's prose is occasionally somewhat empurpled, it could not be more mete to its subject's temperament.
Amazon.com
When this true-crime story first appeared in 1980, it made the New York Times bestseller list within weeks. Two decades later, it's being rereleased in conjunction with a film version produced by DreamWorks. In the space of five years, Frank Abagnale passed $2.5 million in fraudulent checks in every state and 26 foreign countries. He did it by pioneering implausible and brazen scams, such as impersonating a Pan Am pilot (puddle jumping around the world in the cockpit, even taking over the controls). He also played the role of a pediatrician and faked his way into the position of temporary resident supervisor at a hospital in Georgia. Posing as a lawyer, he conned his way into a position in a state attorney general's office, and he taught a semester of college-level sociology with a purloined degree from Columbia University.
The kicker is, he was actually a teenage high school dropout. Now an authority on counterfeiting and secure documents, Abagnale tells of his years of impersonations, swindles, and felonies with humor and the kind of confidence that enabled him to pull off his poseur performances. "Modesty is not one of my virtues. At the time, virtue was not one of my virtues," he writes. In fact, he did it all for his overactive libido--he needed money and status to woo the girls. He also loved a challenge and the ego boost that came with playing important men. What's not disclosed in this highly engaging tale is that Abagnale was released from prison after five years on the condition that he help the government write fraud-prevention programs. So, if you're planning to pick up some tips from this highly detailed manifesto on paperhanging, be warned: this master has already foiled you. --Lesley Reed
Book Description
Frank W. Abagnale, alias Frank Williams, Robert Conrad, Frank Adams, and Robert Monjo, was one of the most daring con men, forgers, imposters, and escape artists in history. In his brief but notorious criminal career, Abagnale donned a pilot's uniform and copiloted a Pan Am jet, masqueraded as the supervising resident of a hospital, practiced law without a license, and cashed over $2.5 million in forged checks, all before he was twenty-one.
Known by the police of twenty-six foreign countries and all fifty states as 'The Skywayman,' Abagnale lived a sumptuous life on the lam -- until the law caught up with him. Now recognized as the nation's leading authority on financial foul play, Abagnale was a charming rogue whose hilarious, stranger-than-fiction international escapades, and ingenious escapes -- including one from an airplane -- make Catch Me If You Can an irresistible tale of deceit.
Performed by Michael Cerveris
Download Description
Here is the uproarious, bestselling true story of the world's most sought-after con man -- the basis for the DreamWorks feature film.
Frank W. Abagnale, alias Frank Williams, Robert Conrad, Frank Adams, and Robert Monjo, was one of the most daring con men, forgers, imposters, and escape artists in history. In his brief but notorious criminal career, Abagnale donned a pilot's uniform and copiloted a Pan Am jet, masqueraded as the supervising resident of a hospital, practiced law without a license, passed himself off as a college sociology professor, and cashed over $2.5 million in forged checks, all before he was twenty-one.
Known by the police of twenty-six foreign countries and all fifty states as "The Skywayman," Abagnale lived a sumptuous life on the lam -- until the law caught up with him. Now recognized as the nation's leading authority on financial foul play, Abagnale is a charming rogue whose hilarious, stranger-than-fiction international escapades, and ingenious escapes -- including one from an airplane -- make Catch Me If You Can an irresistible tale of deceit.
Customer Reviews:
great pulp especially for a short plane trip! .......2007-09-27
"The parental drive Frank wants from Carl feels less evident, missing the sensitive looks and words as played in the movie by Hanks and DiCaprio."
don't you realize how silly it is to complain that stuff happens in the movie(fictional) and not in the book (factual).
Fun.......2007-07-18
This is a fun book. Abagnale's intelligence and wit come through, though the writing is a bit stilted and the material quite dated. But Abagnale's ability to exploit appearances and to exploit the level of trust necessary for society to work is fascinating and very funny. Perhaps his most interesting con is his relationship with women. This is the ultimate con game, I'm afraid, and the book would have been far better had he explained his con in this regard and had he come to terms with it. Also, the book ends quite abruptly and is unsatisfying in explaining how Abagnale ultimately came to terms with himself.
When you do get caught make something of it .......2007-06-29
We sat in the second row as we listened to Abagnale recount his escapades as a con artist. His regret of his actions has led him to a life focused on preventing others from following his footsteps. That prevention includes his own consulting agency, training FBI agents, and lecturing us on identity theft. The serious moment of identity theft silenced the audience showing that Abagnale had earned respect. What Kyle and I took from that speech, besides some great antidotes on how to get money from an ATM machine, was a renewed concern about the protection of our own identity. Take note that both the book and the movie are media-hyped versions of the true story. This doesn't take anything from the read but it does make the reader ask questions of probability. I love the fact that Abagnale (Doesn't his name just roll off the tongue?) is still good friends with the FBI agent, Joseph Shea, whom helped to capture him.
May be the greatest imposter in history.......2007-05-12
Frank Abignale is one of the most original and interesting characters of the century. By the time he was old enough to vote, he had been an airline pilot, lawyer, doctor and womanizer of the first magnitude. Well written and hard to put down.
Great book.......2007-03-09
This was a very fascinating and fun read but entirely different than the movie which I thoroughly enjoyed as well. That's why I bought the book. I would say the movie is very loosely based on this book. I highly recommend both to anybody who likes fun and wants a good laugh.
Product Description
In the most comprehensive assessment of baseball legend Stan Musial's life and career to date, James N. Giglio places the St. Louis Cardinal star within the context of the times-the Great Depression and wartime and postwar America-and the issues then prevalent in professional baseball, particularly race and the changing economics of the game. Giglio illuminates how the times shaped Musial and delves further into his popular image as a warm, unfailingly gracious role model known for good sportsmanship and devotion to family.
Customer Reviews:
From Stash to Stan: The MAN-in-Full.......2004-12-10
This book is head and shoulders above the average baseball biography. Most sports biographies fall into one of two categories: either they're superficial, hero-worshiping treatments that present the subject as a faultless paragon and give little space to anything other than the subject's on-field exploits, or they're efforts to tear down the hero image and dig up as much dirt on the athlete as possible.
Giglio's study of Musial avoids both these pitfalls. Since Giglio is a professional historian, rather than a sportswriter, he brings a historian's thoroughness and depth to his research on Musial. We learn a great deal about Musial's ethnic background, his family, and his personal attitudes and character. Although the author emphasizes what a genuinely good man Musial was and is, he presents a nuanced portrait that accepts and analyses his subject's faults and foibles as well as his many virtues.
Unfortunately, there are always a few hard-core sports fans who flee in horror from this kind of book. All they want to read about is their hero's exploits on the playing field. There are others who live and breathe statistics and sneer in contempt when a book about a baseball star isn't full of Sabrmetrics. It's true that this book is statistically unsophisticated, but the author makes no claims that he's writing that kind of book. This is a book about a MAN who PLAYED baseball-- not a "baseball book."
I give it a four-star rating only because the writing is at times a little dry and professorial--but only a little. This is a great read for anyone who dreams of getting to know a baseball immortal, and one of baseball's genuine gentlemen.
One of The Best Baseball Bios.......2004-06-13
The book covers all phases of Musial's life, including his personal life and post-baseball life. Unlike many baseball bios, it covers some weaknesses in the personal characteristics of this great star, although there were very few in Musial. What I especially liked about the book is that the author contacted and obtained interesting information from numerous former major league players and others who knew Musial. The author had apparently written letters to more than 500 former major leaguers.
I couldn't put the book down. I'd rate it even better than the recent book I read about Ted Willimas, which I rated as the best baseball bio I had ever read. Stan Musial was my favorite ball player wehn I was growing up in the 1950s, and I wasn't disappointed.
If anything, I would have liked to hear even more about Musial's post baseball life, although there's a lot in the book. However, I understand Stan did not cooperate with the author.
An Objective Look At Stan The Man.......2003-09-25
Author James Giglio did not receive the blessings from Stan Musial to write this book, and Stan apparently discouraged others, at least according to the author, from aiding in this book as well. I found the book to be enjoyable and portrays Stan as both the baseball icon he so deservedly is along with frailities that make him human like the rest of us. I found it to be disappointing that he and Joe Garagiola, who are godfathers to each other's children, had a falling out that has apparently ended their friendship over problems involving their Redbird Lanes bowling alley partnership. According to Gigllio, Garagiola has tried to mend the friendship, but Stan wanted no part of it. Stan is not one to get involved in controversial matters such as race relations and the reserve clause which bound players to one team. Musial, while not against integration, did not use his superstar status to speak in support of it. In like manner when Bob Feller wanted him to support revisions to the reserve clause, Musial backpeddled when he (Musial) had suggested free agency after ten years of service and then stated he was satisfied with the status quo. He was in his element when he was in a relaxed atmosphere among people, but controversy made him back off. I did find a few errors in the book, primarily with first names of former players. Hall of Fame Cincinnati manager Bill McKechnie is referred to as "Joe". Former Chicago Cubs catcher Elvin Tappe is referred to as "Ted". Former Brooklyn Dodgers pitchers Chris Van Cuyk and Ben Wade are referred to as "Johnny" and "Jake" respectively. One additional error I found takes place during Stan's retirement party sponsored by the St. Louis chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Ernie Banks spoke and pretended to read a telegram from the NAACP which he said stood for "the National Association for Advancement of Colored Pitchers." Banks actually said, the "National Association for the Advancement of Cubs' Pitching." I have a copy of the highlights of the St. Louis BBWAA on a phonograph record and this portion of the speech is on it. These are errors I caught in the book that I felt should not be there. Four well known players of the time period should have their first names listed correctly, in addition to the error in the speech by Banks. There are probably others, but these are the ones I found. In any case I enjoyed the book, and it was worth my time.
Excellent Biography of Musial.......2002-08-31
Giglio, a professional historian, spent many years researching his subject and produced, in my view, the first serious examination of Musial's life.
Given Musial's well-desrved reputation as a perfect gentleman and role model, many biographical accounts of his life slip into hagiography, but Giglio carefully avoids this trap. He cuts through much of the Musial mythology, and assesses the facts (laboriously compiled from archival research and interviews with many of Musial's contemporaries) in order to present Musial as a real human being.
You wont find much dirt in this book--Musial really was a good guy for the most part. About the only blemish Giglio uncovered from Musial's personal life was that he impregnated his wife 6 months before they were married--a mere peccadillo by contemporary standards, especially considering that Stan and Lil Musial have remained happily married for over 60 years.
Musial's only serious character flaw, according to Giglio, was an unwillingness to take provocative and controversial positions publicly on important issues of his time. For example, although Musial personally detested racism and bigotry, he never publicly condemned racist teammates like Enos Slaughter. According to at least one second-hand account, Musial and Slaughter once came to blows over the matter in private, but Giglio couldn't substantiate this, and publicly Musial has always denied that he and Slaughter, who died just a few weeks ago (12 August 2002), fought over the issue.
The only criticism I have of Giglio's book is his embarrassingly amateurish statistical analysis. In comparing Musial to the other greats of his era (Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Mickey Mantle), Giglio uses a simplistic ranking methodology incorporating some common statistics like batting average, home runs and RBIs among others, but he ignores walks and on-base percentage completely, and he doesn't even attempt to account for fielding statistics or ballpark affects. Anyone familiar with serious scientific analysis of baseball (e.g. the work of Pete Palmer, Bill James or the gang at Baseball Prospectus) will laugh out loud at obvious lack of sophistication in Giglio's analysis. Mercifully, Giglio's statistical analysis only takes up a few pages.
Overall though, I give Giglio high marks for producing an excellent biography of Musial. I feel I know Musial much better than I did before, and ultimately that's the best test of any biography.
Good book on Musial- just short of greatness.......2002-03-21
This is a wonderful book on probably the most underrated player in baseball history. I was astounded by some of the numbers Musial put up year in and year out- I knew he was good, but this book really did a good job of presenting his accompishments and his persona in an objective way.
This book would have been a 5-star except that the author was unable to collaborate with Musial (for some reason, Musial declined to meet with the author) which left me aspiring for something from Stan the Man himself.
However, even without Musial's cooperation, this book stands on its own. It does Musial justice in that it portrays him as one of the nicest and most genuine players in the history of the game. I do not think it tried to dig up dirt on Stan at all (as one previous reviewer stated); in fact, I don't think it could have been more complementary of Stan!
Though this book isn't one of the best baseball books I have ever read, I certainly think that it is a noteworthy accomplishment of a man who did not and maybe has still yet to receive his due. He is without question one of the top five greatest players in the history of the game, something which he is not always recognized for. I think baseball fans would enjoy this book on Stan Musial.
Book Description
On the evening of August 30, 2003, Robert and Melissa Rogers and their four young children were driving home from a family wedding. Caught in a flash flood, Melissa and the children all drowned. Into the Deep is the compelling story of how one man’s faith took root and blossomed through trials, blessings, and a deepening trust in God.
Customer Reviews:
Into the Deep.......2007-08-24
The thought that anyone could go through all that tragedy, survive, and keep a good spirit MUST have inspiration only God could provide!
No Regrets!.......2007-08-20
This book has really impacted me in a big way. I have decided that I want to live the rest of my life with no regrets and to cherish every moment with my family. Yes, God is still good even when there is pain and sorrow, even when things don't make sense. We must make a conscientious effort to trust HIM for God's grace is sufficient for us.
Living life after bad things happen.......2007-07-17
"Living a life of no regrets." How many times have we heard that as words to live by? Many of us find the true meaning of those words through the test of our faith. And there is no greater test of faith than losing someone you love. But how greatly is our faith tested if we lose our whole family? Spouse and children, gone from your life in an instant? How is a child of God to bear such overwhelming grief?
Robert Rogers is such a person. Rogers lost his wife and four children in a flash flood while driving home from a wedding. Within a week of the flood, Rogers was burying his entire family. Into the Deep is the incredible story of Rogers' journey from the heights of happiness to the depths of despair, and the new life Rogers bravely forged from the ashes.
Rogers worked as an electrical engineer and dealt in logic and reasoning in his daily life. Losing his family to an act outside of his control was more than he could bear. Rogers had to decide whether he should, or could, turn to his faith and place his trust in God.
No greater test of faith is imaginable, and Rogers demonstrates an unshakable belief in his trust in God. He was presented with a choice to either walk away from God or walk with God. Not only did Rogers walk the path of faith, he turned a devastating and dark life event into the foundation of his new path--that of ministering to those through speaking engagements, retelling the story of his family and the flood.
Into the Deep provides a moving account of Rogers' trials and how he rose above great challenge to become an evangelical speaker and spread the word through his ministry, "Mighty is the Word," based on a verse from Psalm 112. This became Rogers' anthem: to challenge others to become mighty children of God and as such, effectively impact God's Kingdom. And what better message to all of us of tested faith?
Armchair Interviews says: Powerful message of life after devastation.
powerful true story of faith.......2007-07-08
After a summer of drought on the Plains, the heavy rain during the Labor Day weekend of 2003 was considered a blessing by most people even if it dampens some of the outdoor activities. In Liberty, Missouri, Robert and Melissa Rogers and their four young children (eight years old Makenah Alexandra, three years old Nicholas Adam, Downs syndrome six years old Zachary Seth and adopted special needs child twenty-one month Alenah YenWing) attend the wedding of Melissa's Uncle Mark in Wichita, a 200 mile drive. After the ceremony they head home with the torrent getting worse. Near Jacob Creek, a "river" floods the road. Melissa and the kids drown while Robert survives as he says "by the grace of God" washing him away. His faith already strong becomes even deeper as he mourns his loss, but knows his loved ones are in a better place walking with God.
This is a powerful true story of how faith in God sustained Robert and continues to do so. Readers will admire him and wonder how he can still trust in the Lord following the tragedy as he obviously loved his family deeply. Readers who appreciate a well written inspirational true life story from the heart and soul will cherish "one man's story of how tragedy took his family but could not take his faith".
Harriet Klausner
"God is still good, all the time".......2007-06-25
When "Into the Deep" crossed my desk a few weeks ago, I glanced at it, but put it aside, as I was reading at least three other books at the time. But something prompted me to pick the book up over the weekend, and I read it straight through. A slim volume, it's a quick read that is both extremely painful and unrelentingly hopeful.
"Into the Deep" is the story of Robert Rogers, who lost his wife and all four of his children in a flash flood in Missouri in 2003.
The scenes where Rogers has to identify the bodies of his children and his wife are nothing short of heart-wrenching. Early on in the book, when Rogers describes how playing with his family was among his greatest joys, and how he would literally bless them every day, we get a glimpse of the fact that this is an extraordinary man.
But it is in Rogers' response to the sudden destruction of his family that we see God's incredible peace and grace truly revealed. Yes, Rogers had his agonizing times of questioning God, and hours of anguished tears. But he was not without hope, and he has come through the tragedy "shining like gold."
This is a book about a tragedy, and if such things touch you deeply, you'll want to keep the Kleenex handy. But as you agonize with Robert Rogers over the loss of his family, you will also rejoice over a faith that is able to sustain a person over the most catastrophic and horrifically painful times. There is great comfort in the fact that Rogers can still say, "God is still good, all the time."
Average customer rating:
- Tantalizing, puzzling and revealing, yet dangerous
- Not the Man Who Invented The Third Reich
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The Man Who Invented the Third Reich
Stan Lauryssens
Manufacturer: Sutton Publishing
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ASIN: 0750930543 |
Book Description
When Hitler and the Nazis swept to power, Van den Bruck realized Hitler had become the personification of the violent dynamism he had recommended and foresaw the horrors to come.
Customer Reviews:
Tantalizing, puzzling and revealing, yet dangerous.......2000-07-11
I am not a book reviewer. I am not a great historian either. But I am a reader, an anybody, "interested" in history rather than a history scholar. I had (and still have) not read the book "The Third Reich" by Arthur Moeller van den Bruck, so I did not know first hand what to expect here.
Bottom line: This book is a study in character. It is not the biography of just one man (AMVB), but two: AH as well. Brilliantly, maybe even unconciously, this work reveals what I believe the difference was beetween AH and the rest of the people of his time, as exemplified by AMVB. The ideas between AMVB and AH did apparently not differ very much, yet the personalities do: human bevavior, "morals", versus absolute wild and barbaric, in-human ruthlessness. AH could kill a lifelong friend without loosing a second of sleep over it, AMVB was plagued by depression (consience?) and killed himself. History (and politics) is all about character, not about philosophies. The story of AMVB puzzles, it is tragic drama of classical a stature. The picturesque and minutely detailed szene descriptions capture the readers imagination, the reader literally lives through early 20th century Berlin and Vienna. Yet, it this, this all to human picturesque in stories about AH that could easily make one forget what a mass murderer he really was. This is the danger of such a book. It tells a story from eyewitness accounts (O Strasser, a black shirt!) and personal (the authors) imagination; it describes the philosophy of the absolut inhuman from a perspective all too human; hence it cannot claim to be objective or entirely truthful. It can only tell a story, like a novel writer does. It is work of fiction in an unfictious world. A puzzling story, yes, but how much of it should we really believe?
Not the Man Who Invented The Third Reich.......2000-07-06
This is billed as the history of Moeller Van Den Bruck, the man who's book "The Third Reich", inspired Hitler.
While this book had some potential it falls down on the lack of basic material. Stan Lauryssens reveals in the last pages that all of Moeller Van Den Bruck's papers were destroyed at the end of WWII. This explains the structure of the rest of the book - a brief guide to the world in which van den Bruck lived and died. The result is that you only get brief glimpses of the man who was supposed to be the centre of this book.
It's also my opinion that Lauryssens also takes Otto Strasser (the so-called Anti-Hitler Nazi) altogether too much on his word.
Yet for all of this, it is an interesting book to read. For anyone interested in Weimar and what happened to it, it's worth a look.
Average customer rating:
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Chasing Fireflies: An Englishman's Recollection of Travelling through America in 1974
Stan Laundon
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1412020972
Release Date: 2006-07-06 |
Product Description
Thirty years ago a young man fulfilled a dream by travelling to Nashville, Tennessee; this tells what happened to him and his companions on a journey through seven States.
Customer Reviews:
Comprehensive Kenton.......2001-05-10
This is a massive work of scholarship, published privately, by a California newspaper reporter who loves the music of Stan Kenton. The 402 pages are mostly double column, and a great many photographs accompany the text. Scores of often extremely interesting interviews of key figures in the Kenton story appear, along with articles about Kenton and interviews given by the famous jazz musician and composer himself. Also included is an itinerary, with more than 9,000 entries, of the Kenton band during the entire course of its history, 1941-78.
Of the four major books on Stan Kenton (the others being by William Lee, Lillian Arganian, and Carol Easton), this is the most comprehensive, detailed, and valuable. Serious Kenton fans simply can't be without this book, even at its high price. Any student of the Big Band Era will also find it useful and enlightening.
My only criticism is that Harris is a bit too worshipful at times and is occasionally evasive about Kenton's problems with alcohol and women. Carol Easton's perceptive book Straight Ahead should be consulted on these and other less flattering personal matters.
Stan Kenton was a highly important contributor to American jazz, and we are fortunate to have this in-depth study of his long and fruitful career.
Average customer rating:
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Stan the Man: the Autobiography
Ralph Iona
Manufacturer: Paper Plane Publishing Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1871872103 |
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